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Structure of the chromatin axis during transcription

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Abstract

A new isolation procedure for polytene chromosomes has been developed which permits visualization of the native chromatin template of transcriptionally active genes. The Balbiani ring genes in the salivary glands of Chironomus tentans have been analyzed specifically: these genes are exceptionally long (37 kb) and very active in transcription. The most abundant configuration of the template is an extended fiber, approximately 5 nm in diameter. When the distance between adjacent RNA polymerases is unusually long, the template is packed into a 10 nm fiber. Occasionally, the fiber can further fold into a loose coil forming a more or less distinct 30 nm fiber. It is concluded that a large part of the chromatin axis is in a fully extended form during transcription of the Balbiani ring genes. However, if a given segment of the template is not continuously occupied by RNA polymerases it can be packed into a single nucleosome, into a string of nucleosomes (the thin fiber) or even into a supercoiled string of nucleosomes (the thick fiber). A comprehensive model based on the opposing topological effects of nucleosome disassembly and DNA melting caused by the RNA polymerase, is presented to account for the observed dynamic behavior of the chromatin template.

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Author notes

  1. M. M. Lamb

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, WA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Genetics, Medical Nobel Institute, Karolinska Institute, Box 60400, S-104 01, Stockholm, Sweden

    B. Björkroth, C. Ericsson, M. M. Lamb & B. Daneholt

Authors
  1. B. Björkroth
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  2. C. Ericsson
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  3. M. M. Lamb
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  4. B. Daneholt
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Björkroth, B., Ericsson, C., Lamb, M.M. et al. Structure of the chromatin axis during transcription. Chromosoma 96, 333–340 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330699

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330699

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